The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted searches at 16 locations across three states, including poll-bound Jharkhand, in connection with the illegal stone mining scam at Nimbu Pahar. This investigation focuses on Pankaj Mishra, an alleged political aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, officials reported.
The CBI’s operation spanned across Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bihar, executing searches in 11 locations in Sahibganj, three in Ranchi, and one each in Patna and Kolkata, news agency PTI reported. The agency recovered Rs 50 lakh in cash, one kilogram of gold, and one kilogram of silver, along with property documents worth crores.
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Jharkhand Illegal Mining Scam Case
This case originated from a directive issued by the Jharkhand High Court on November 23, 2023. The CBI registered a First Information Report (FIR) on November 20 last year, which named Pankaj Mishra, Pavitra Kumar Yadav, Rajesh Yadav, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Bacchu Yadav, Sanjay Yadav, and Suvesh Mandal as the accused. They are believed to be involved in the illegal extraction and pilferage of stone in Sahibganj.
The Jharkhand High Court had instructed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the actions of the accused as well as those of Bijay Hansda, who sought to withdraw his writ petition. Hansda has claimed that illegal mining activities have persisted for over two years, allegedly with the collusion of government officials, including mining officers in his district, as per PTI. He reported that earthmoving machinery and blasting were being employed, leading to damage to villagers’ homes. Despite his complaints, no action was taken by district officials.
Following the preliminary enquiry, the CBI took over the FIR filed by the Sahibganj Police. During proceedings, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) highlighted Mishra’s control over illegal stone mining operations and their transportation in Sahibganj. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also voiced serious concerns regarding the illegal mining issue in the region.
The high court noted that Mishra, who serves as the MLA representative for the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, is a significant figure in the illegal mining activities in Sahibganj and surrounding areas. The court stated that Mishra is currently in custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and that his political connections have hindered the investigation’s integrity, according to PTI. Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi remarked in an August 18, 2023 order that there is ample evidence of illegal mining linked to Mishra and others, questioning the adequacy of the ongoing investigation and suggesting it may be superficial.
The assembly elections in Jharkhand are scheduled for November 13 and 20, where the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the INDIA bloc will compete against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies.
